The most representative example of Ilbe culture being transferred to real space is the ‘Starbucks Tank Day’ incident that occurred in May 2026. As the event held to coincide with the anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement was combined with words reminiscent of martial law forces' suppression of citizens, the public accepted this as a distortion of history and a blatant mockery of the victims. This controversy went beyond the mere mistake of a specific company and brought to the surface the far-right codes and lack of historical awareness that still remain in our society. In the end, an unprecedented situation occurred in which the head of a conglomerate ranked 10th in the business world came forward and apologized to the public, proving how hate speech can have a fatal impact on a company's brand image and social responsibility. This phenomenon suggests that hatred has gone beyond individual deviance and has grown into a huge wave of social outrage.

Online ridicule is indiscriminately invading offline memorial spaces. It is a great shock to us that on May 23, the anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, the practice of imitating howling at Owl Rock in Bongha Village or taking mocking photos in front of the statue is repeated every year. The practice of substituting even tragic events such as the Itaewon disaster with derogatory terms such as ‘Hotteokjeol’ and enjoying them as if it were a game has an immoral aspect that fundamentally denies human dignity. Although the ‘gluttony struggle’ that took place in front of the Sewol Ferry victims’ families in the past became the target of social criticism, it is very worrying that even 12 years later, this culture of ridicule has not been eradicated and is instead permeating among teenagers under the name of ‘peer culture.’

The reality of Ilbe users directly encountered by the production team contains more complex and multi-layered problems. In-depth interviews conducted with 20 people, ranging from teenagers to people in their 30s who have quit their past activities, clearly show how hatred is internalized under the mask of ‘fun.’ Even those who initially claimed that it started out simply as humor or play, increasingly revealed their exclusive prejudice against immigrants, unfounded hatred of certain regions, and distorted views of history as the conversation continued. In particular, the fact that Ilbe terminology is used as a kind of ‘grade’ in schools, and that it has degenerated into a tool to confirm belonging within a group, portends a serious crisis in the educational field. Experts' point out that repeated ridicule, which started as light entertainment, ultimately solidifies individual beliefs as hatred, has significant implications.

The limitations of legal response are also a painful reality we face. In the past, only a few people were sentenced to prison for mocking the victims of the Sewol Ferry disaster, and the majority of those involved avoided punishment due to lack of evidence. This dulled social awareness of hate expressions and, as a result, had the side effect of perceiving ridicule as ‘play with impunity.’ Now, 12 years later, the process of tracking down what kind of life the mockers of that time were living raises questions for us. Is strong punishment really the only solution to prevent hatred, or is there a need for reflection on how far our society should share community responsibility? In an era where hatred has become part of daily life, the importance of civil society's ability to self-purify beyond the legal system and correct history education are becoming more urgent than ever.